Sheet-feeding device



E. J. BRASSEUR.

SHEET FEEDING DEV-ICE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, I920. Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

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NORRIS PETERS |NC,. LITHO. WASHINGTON D C E. J. BRASSEU'R. SHEET FEEDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1920.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

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I W W *IIWW E. J. BRASSEUR; SHEET FEEDING DEVICE. APPLICATION man JUNE 12, 1920.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

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E. J. BRASSEUR. SHEET FEEDING D EVICE. APPLICATION F'ILEDJUNEIZ, 1920.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST 3'. BRASSEUB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO A. B. DICK COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINGIS, GOBPORATEON OF ILLINOIS.

SHEET-FEEDING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Extent.

atented Mar. 8, v1921.

Application filed June 12, 1920. Serial No. 388,485.

'0 all 2 17: am it mm concern lie it know that I, ERNEST J. Bnsssnon, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Sheet-Feeding D-.lQQS, of which the following is a specifi- (.h'lOIl.

My invention relates to sheet feeding devi es which are particularly applicable for use with duplicating machines of the type employing a rotary drum, such as are described for example in Patents No. 1054399 and 1054637. to A. Dirk, dated February 193%. ill) invention relates particularly 'oveinents in sheet feeding mecha- 7 whereby paper sheets of varying thickness and character may be fed with great accuracy from the top of a pile of roots to a stencilduplicating or other maating machines of the character various adjustments have been h. n order to eiliciently feed sheets of differs character. The length of time,

in re io to the rotation ot the cylinder, which the feed rollers engage a sheet durin in the some up from the stack needs to w se d when sheets of a l] ghter or a "er are to be operated upon. sheet at a time a longer pes Ln. t for heavy or thick sheets for light or thin sheets, and a longer required if a sheet has a smooth surbe hon otherwise.

T e amount of pressure exerted upon the stack of sheets by the feed table below the a the feed rollers above the same e" Zl'ujllEllfi'lBllt. in the case of sheets at character. The pressure should in the case of thick sheets than lac case of thin sheets. Likewise the point of application of pressure upon the top sheet of the stack by the paper weight which is caused to engage the top sheet latter is to be picked up by the DP-1i the 1 llers, should be different for different ters of paper. For thick paper, genv speaking, this rod should engage the along line which is farther away n the feed rollers than it should be in case of light paper. have provided a construction in which a single manual control automatically makes the three adjustments referred to, namely, the timing of the contact between the feed rollers and the top sheet, the pressure exerted on the paper, and the distance between the transverse rod referred to and the feed rollers llilechanism is provided whereby the turning of a hand crankor the like moves a pointer over a graduated scale, and at the same time causes such adjustment of the working parts that the three factors referredto will be taken care of during the operation of the machine. I have found that the three factors mentioned. bear such a relation to each other that a proportional adjustment of all three will give satisfactory results. My object accordingly is to provide an effective structure for producing the effect desired.

in order that a clearer understanding of my invention may be had, attention is heredirccted to the accompanying drawings forming part of this application and illustrating one embodiment of my invention. in the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a; rotary duplicating machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial. side elevation viewed from the same side as Fig. 1, but with various parts broken away to show parts behind the same; Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line T T-e of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Fig.3; and Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 66 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the machine embodies the usual rotary drum 1 which i .ay be rotated by the hand crank 2, or by belt connection from a suitable motor to the pulley 3 on the drum shaft 4. A stack of sheets to be fed into the machine is placed on the table 5, and on the apron 5, between the gages 7 and 8, 8, with the forward edges of the sheets beneath the regulator plate 9. During the rotation of the drum the feed roll rs 10 on shaft 11. pick up the forward edge of the top sheet, the paper buckling between the feed rollers and the breaker or paper weight rod 12, and the sheet feeding 'nto the machine between the feed rollers and the friction roller 13 above the same in well known manner.

In the form of my invention illustrated vertical plate '14 is secured at the right hand side of the machine. This plate has a flanged extension 15 secured to its upper portion, the upper curved surface of this extension being graduated and provided with suitable indicating characters, as is shown at 16. This scale may bear the words Thin at one end and Thick at the other with the figures 1 to 7, or any other suitable number, between the same. A pointer 17 is adapted to be moved over scale 16 into a suitable position for indicating adjustment of the machine for feeding, for example, one sheet at a time of a specified thickness vand character.

The various adjustments are all made by a hand crank 18 secured to a stud 19 mounted in the platele. Stud 19 carries a bevel gear 20 onthe inner side of plate 1 1, this gear meshing with bevel 21 mounted on shaft 22, which is rotatably mounted in brackets 23, 24:; on the inner face of plate 7 14. Shaft 22 is provided with an external screw thread and carries a. nut 25 which preferably is of a yoke shapejwith two internally threaded on screw 22as shown. 7

As the adjusting crank 13 is rotated in one direction or the other, nut 25 travels in one direction or the other along screw 22.

11 link 26 is secured to an upward extension of nut 25, at 27, and the other or forward end of this link is pivotally connected as shown at 28 to a thin disk 29 which is mounted for rotation on stud 30 extending through plate 14. Thisrotary disk 29 has an upward extension 31 to which the indicator 17 is secured.

portion which ot'an internal 34 which is mounted for A sector 32 is mounted for rotation on stud 30 immediately on the outer side of plate 14, tl1is sector having aflanged rim toothed to form a segment gear as is shown at 'Thc sector is also, provided with a web portion rotation on stud 30'as stated. V

The disk 29 carries an outwardly extendextends' through a slot and also through slot 37 01 the web 3 1 of sector 32, siots36 and 3? being curved on arcs concentric with stud 30. Pin

35 carries a pinion 38 which meshes with the teeth 33 of sector 32. A pinion 39 is mounted on pin 35 outwardly from pinion, 38, pinion 39 meshingwith a gear 10 mounted on stud 30. A cam disk 11 is concentric with and secured to or integral with gear 40, this cam disk being held in position by a nut 42 at the extreme outer-end of stud 30.

Y F rom-the'foregoing it-will be clear that rotation of hand crank 18 results in the oscillation of disk 29in one direction of ro tation or the other, and in the consequent rotation of pinion 38 about its axis as it travels in'a circular path aboutthe axis ofstud 30 and is at the sametime constrained to rotate separated portions mounted 'machine. Link 53 because of being in mesh with the gear teeth 33 of the circular rack 32. Pinion 39 rotates with pinion 38 and turns gear -10 to adjust cam 11 into one angular position or another.

Shaft 43 is constantly rotated during the operation of the machine by a chain of idlers 414, 44 from the shaft 6 of hand crank 2 which is geared to the stud shaft 1 of the rotary drum. A pair or cams 46, 4'? are secured to shaft 13 on the outer or front side of plate 14. A bell crank pivoted at 418 on the outer face of the plate 14 is provided with apair of arms 4-9 and 50 carrying rollers at their outer ends which engage re spectively withcams 46 and 17. The bell crank also has a downwardly extending arm 51 to which a link 52 is pivotally connected at one end, the other end of the link being pivotally connected at 53 to the. web as of as to-oscillate thebell crank about studS I once during each two revolutions of hand crank 2, the gearing ratio between shafts 43 and 6 being two to one. As the bell crank oscillates, the circular'rack is swung forwardly and back and cam il'is oscillated in reverse direction to the circular rack through the pinions 38 and 39. j

- The breaker rod or paper weight rod 12 has end portions 12 of reduced diameter mounted in slots 5 1 of the side arms 55 of the breaker rod frame or paper weight frame 55, arms 55 being pivoted at 56, 56, spring 5. tending to hold the paper weight frame in depressed position. The end portions 12 of rod 12 are pivotally connected to the ends of links 58, 58.' Links 58, 53 are pivotally connected to the ends '01? levers 59, 59, which are pivoted on the studs 56, 56. A link 61 is pivotally connected at one end to lev 1' 9, at a point 62 below the'pivot pin 56, and at the otherend to the disk 29 at 63. The bottom end of lever 59 is connected by a link 61- and arm (i to a rod 66 which extends across the machine and is rotatably supported in the sidefr members67, 6?- of the machine. At its opposite end shaft is connected by arm 65 and link 64 to the lever 59 which is, iv t 56 to the adjacent side frame 67 oi I pivotally ronnectst upper end of lever 59 in the of paper weight rod 12/ It willbe obvious that as hand crank 18 rotated in a clockwise direction, to advance the pointer 17 from the thin toward the thick end of scale 16, disk 29 being correspondingly oscillated, levers 59 and 59 will be rotated about their pivots in a counterclockwise direction, ref rring to Figs 3 and 1, so as to move the rod 12 to the left, that at a fart ier distance from the steed rollers 19. Accordingly w 1611 the parts have been adjusted in this direction, the. rod 12 will press upon the top sheet upon is rotated in counterclockwise direction, the

pointer 17 will move toward the thin endof scale 16 and levers 59 and 59 will move in the opposite direction, to cause rod 12 to engage the top sheet at a point which is nearer to the feed rollers 10.

The table 5 is pivotally supported at the rear on rod 68 in the usual manner. The table 5 has-a slotted plate 69 secured to the under side of the same, and a lever 70 secured at one end on shaft 71 has a roller 72 at its other or rear end which engages in the slot.

As table 5 is rocked about its pivot 68 shaft 71 will accordingly be rocked, and vice versa, shaft 71 being supported in the opposite side frames 67 of the machine. An arm secured to shaft 71 has a spiral spring 73 extending forwardly from the lower end of the same. The forward end of this spring is secured to a member 74. An arm 75 is secured at its upper end to a pin 76 which is rotatably supported from the inner side of plate 14. The lower end of arm 75 is bifurcated and engages member 7 4. A lever arm '77 is also secured to pin 76, arm 77 carrying at its lower or forward end a roller 78 which bears against the periphery of a cam plate 79 which is secured to the disk 29.

When hand crank 18 is rotated in direction to advance the pointer 17 in a right handed direction over the scale 16, that is toward the end of the scale marked Thick, disk 29 and cam 79 are moved through a partial rotation so as to lower roller 78 and accordingly to move arm 75 to the left, referring to Fig. 3, so as to increase the tension on spring 73, with the result of causing table 5 to press the paper sheets upwardly against the feed rollers 10 with an increased pressure. Similarly when crank 18 is rotated in the opposite direction, the tension on spring 7 3 will be decreased so as to decrease the pressure with which table 5 presses the sheets upwardly.

l have now described how the operation of hand crank 18 varies the position of paper weight rod 12 and at the same time the pressure exerted on the top sheet while the same is in contact'with the feed rollers 10} As stated above, a third effect is also produced by the rotation of hand crank 18, namely, the variation of the time during which this pressure is exerted on the paper by the table 5 below the same and the feed rollers 10 above the same. This may be accomplished by holding table 5 in its uppermost position for a greater or less length of time in relation to the rotation of drum 1.

This is effected by the position of cam 41. An arm 80 on the frontor outer side of plate 14; is secured at its upper, rearward end to a shaft 81 which is rotatably mounted in plate 14 at one end and in a plate 82 mounted on the base 83 of the machine beyond the side frame 67 on the opposite side of the machine. Arm 80 carries a roller 84 at its lower end which bears against the surface of cam 41. During the operation of the machine cam 41 will be oscillated forward and back as described, to oscillate shaft 81.

Arm 72, which as stated is secured to shaft 71, has a rearwardly extending arm 85 integral therewith or secured thereto, this arm having a ratchet 86 formed at its rear end. A second lever 87 is mounted on shaft 71 to turn freely thereabout, this lever having a tail or extension 88 extending downwardly from shaft 71. This arm 88 is connected by a spiral spring 89 with the rear portion of the base 83, the effect of this spring being to tend to move arm 87 upwardly.

A pin 90 is carried by the rear end of arm 87 andan arm 91 secured on shaft 81 constantly bears on this pin. Since arm 87 is pressed upwardly by spring 89, the action of this spring is to hold roller 84 constantly up against the surface of cam 41.

A pawl carrier 92 is pivotally secured to pin 90 to extend upwardly therefrom. A spring 93 secured to member 92 at one end and to arm 87 at the other constantly tends to swing member 92 in a right handed direction, referring to Fig. 4. A pawl 94 on member 92 is adapted to engage the teeth of ratchet 86, so that when member 92 is depressed the pawl will engage one of the ratchet teeth to swing arm 85 downwardly and accordingly to lower table 5.

Pawl carrier 92 is provided with aroller 95 which is adapted to engage against the lower edge of a bracket 96 which is secured to the adjacent side frame member 67, when member 92 rises, to cam member 95 rearwardly, that is to the left, referring to Fig.

to disengagepawl 94 from ratchet 86.

The operation of this feature of the mechanism will now be plain. The adjustment of hand lever 18 positions cam 41 in one position or another relative to roller 84. When hand crank 18 is moved to swing pointer 17 to the right, that is toward the Thick end of the scale 16, cam 41 is adjusted so that the low portion of its periphery 97 will be in contact with roller 84 for the greater part of the forward and back movement of cam 41 and the high part of the cam 98 for a less time. When, however, the pointer 17 is moved to the Thin end of scale 16, roller 84 will contact the high part 98 of the cam for the greater part of the movement and will contact against the low part 97 for a comparatively brief period each operation.

lVhen roller 84 rides on to the high part 98 of the cam from the low part, arm 91 is swung downwardly and pawl 94 engages a.

tooth of ratchet 86 and carries the same down, depressing table 5, which is held in depressed position until roller 8% rides off the high part 98 on to the low part 97 of cam 41. When this happens table 5 rises to its topposition, pawl 94. being cammed out oi: engagement with ratchet 86 by the engagement of roller 95 with the bracket 96. Accordingly the table will be in its upper position, with the pressure of spring 73 pressing the same up, for a longer. period each cycle of operations, as hand crank 18' is rotated to progress pointer 17 toward the right in Fig. 3.

In the operation of the machine it it is noted that the feed rollers 10 are tailing to pick up each top paper sheet in its proper order, it is only necessary to turn crank 18 in a right handeddirection until each sheet is properly picked up. If on the other hand, two or more sheets are being picked up at a time, cank 18 is rotated in a left hand direction, to decrease the pressure of spring 723, the time of contact and the dis tance between rod 12 and the feed rollers,

until one sheet onlv is bein )1'0)G1'l Y )iclred t e .l l I up each operation. 7

It, should be understood that my invention is not limited to the exact details oi construction described, but is as broad as is indicated by the accompanying claims.

For the sake of clearness, various details of construction of the stencil-duplicating maohineas it existed before my present invention are not shown or described.

7 lVhat I claim is::

'1. In a duplicating machine, the combination with a'table for a pile of sheets, means for buckling the forward end'of the top sheet, to separate it from the pile, bearing means to exertpressure on the top sheet, to

i v the rear of the portion buckled, and resilient means to cause said buckling means toexert pressure on the top sheet while it is operating, all of said means cominginto operation periodically, of means'to adjust theelength of time of application of said buckling means, the distance between said bearing means and buckling means, and the amount of pressure exerted by said resilient means, and means for operating all ofsaid adjusting means together.

2. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a table, means to lower and raise and hold the same raised for an lIltGlVtl-LFGPGit-tedly,during the operation of the machine, a feeding rollerabove said table, adapted to coact with the top sheet of a pile on said table, when said table'is raised, a paperweight har, adapted to bear upon the top of the pile at a distance to the rear of said roller, means for adjusting the distance to the rear of said rollerat which said bar bears upon the pile, means for adjusting the time said table remains in its raised position, each operation, and a single manuall' operated member for operating both of sald adjusting means. 7

3. In a duplicating machine, the combina tion of a table, means to lower and raise and hold the same raised for an interval, repeatedly, during the operation of the machine, a feeding roller above said table, adapted to coact with the top sheet of a pile on said table, when said table is raised, a paperweight bar, adapted to bear upon the top of the pile at a distance to the rear of said roller, means for adjusting the distance to the rear of said roller at which said bar bears upon the pile, means for exerting upward pressure on said table when it is raised, means for adjusting the amount of said pressure, and a single manually-operated member for operating both of said adjust ing means.

4. In a duplicating machine, the combinationofa table, means to lower and raise and hold the same raised for an interval, repeatedly, during the operation of the machine, a feeding roller above said table, adapted to coact with the top sheet of a pile on said table, when said table is raised, a paperweight bar, adapted to bear upon the top oi the pile at a distance to the rear of said roller, means. for exerting upward pressure on said table when it is raised, means for ad justing the amount of said pressure, means for adjusting the time said table remains in its raised position, each operation, and a single manually-operated member for operating both of said adjusting means. 7

5. In a duplicating machine, the combination of atahle, means to lower and raise and hold the-same raised for an interval, repeatedly, during the operation of. the machine, a feeding roller above said table,;adapted to coact with the top sheet of a pile on said table, when said table 'is'raised, a paperweight bar, adapted to bear upon the top of the pile a distance to the rear of said roller, means for ad usting the distance to the rear of said roller at which said bar 7 j'usting means.

6. In a duplicating ma chine. the combination of a tablea feeding roller above the forward end portion, of said table, means for lfltfilllg said table and roller relatively apart, and toward each other, and holding them for an intervalin position for said roller to onset with the top sheet of a pile on said table, cyclically, a paper-weight bar, adapted to bear upon the top of the pile at a distance to the rear of said roller, means for adjusting the time said roller can coact with the top sheet, means for adjusting the distance between said roller and bar when the latter bears on the pile, and a single member for operating both of said adjusting means.

7. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a table, a feeding roller above the forward end portion of said table, means for moving said table and roller relatively, cyclically, into and out of position for said roller to coact with the top sheet ot a pile on said table, means for adjusting the time said roller can coact with the top sheet, each cycle, means for adjusting tl e pressure exerted on the top sheet by said roller, when coact-ing therewith, and a single member for operating both of said adjusting means.

8. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a table, a feeding roller above the forward end portion of said table, means for moving said table and roller relatively, cyclically, into and out of position for said roller to coact with the top sheet of a pile on said table, means for adjusting the pressure exerted on the top sheet, each cycle, when said roller contacts the same, a bar adapted to bear on the top sheet to the rear of said roller, when said roller coacts with said sheet. means to adjust the distance between said bar and roller at such times, and a single member for operating both of said adjusting means.

9. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a table, a feed roller above the same, means to lower and raise said table and hold the same in lowered and raised positions, re peatedly, during the operation of the machine, comprising a cam, having two concentric portions, a roller riding on said cam, and connections between said roller and table for raising or lowering said table as said roller passes from one portion of said cam to the other, or vice versa, means for swinging said cam forward and back, repeatedly, and means for adjusting the angular position of said cam.

10. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a table, a feed roller above the same, means to lower and raise said table and hold the same in lowered and raised positions, repeatedly, during the operation of the machine, comprising a cam, having two concentric portions, a roller riding on said cam, and connections between said roller and table for raising 0r lowering said table as said roller passes from one portion of said cam to the other, or vice versa, means for swinging said cam forward and back, repeatedly, a manually-operable member, a pivoted plate, connections for varying the angular position of said plate as said memher is operated. and connections between said plate and cam for adjusting the angular position of said cam.

11. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a table, a feed rollerabove the same, means to lower and raise said table and hold the same in lowered and raised positions, repeatedly, during the operation of the machine, a manually-operable member, a pivoted plate; connections for varying the angular position of said plate as said member is operated, and connections between said plate and said table raising and lowering means, or adjusting the timing of the latter in accordance with the angular position of said plate.

12. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a table, a feed roller above the same, means to lower and raise said table and hold the same in lowered and raised positions, repeatedly, during the operation or the machine, comprising a cam, having two concentric portions, a roller riding on said cam, and connections between said roller and table for raising or lowering said table as said roller passes from one portion of said cam to the other, or vice versa, an internally toothed sector, means for swinging the same forward and back during the operation of the machine, a pivoted plate, means for adjusting the angular position of the same, a pin on said plate, a pinion rotatable about said pin and meshing with said sector in all positions of said plate, a gear secured to said cam, and a pinion concentric with and se cured to said first pinion, meshing with said gear.

13. In a duplicating machine, the 00111- bination of a table, a feed roller above the same, means to lower and raise said table and hold the same in lowered and raised posit-ions, repeatedly, during the operation of the machine, comprising a cam,'having two concentric portions, a roller riding on said cam, and pivoted connections between said roller and table for raising and lowering the latter as said roller passes from one portion or said cam to the other, or vice versa, a spring pressing said table upwardly and holding said roller in contact with said cam, means for swinging said cam forward and back repeatedly, a manually controlled member, and means operable therefrom for adj usting the angular position of said cam and the tension of said spring.

142. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a table, a feed roller above the same, means to lower and raise said table and hold the same in lowered and raised positions, repeatedly, during the operation of the machine, a manually-operable member, a pivoted plate, connections for varying the angular position of said plate as said member is operated, a spring tending to press said table upwardly, and connections from rhino, a feeding l on said table, when said tablesaid plate for varying the tension of said spring in accordance with the angular position of said plate.

15. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a table, a feed roller above the sameflneans to lower and raise said table and hold the same in lowered and raised positions, repeatedly, during the operation of the machine, a manually-operable member, a pivoted plate, connections for varying the angular position of said plate as said member is operated, a spring tending to press said table upwardly, connections between said plate and said table raising and lowering means for adjusting the timing of the latter, and connections between said plate and spring for varying the tension of the latter, both in accordance with the angular position of said plate.

16. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a table, means to lower and raise and'hold the same raised for an interval, peatedly, during the operation of? the maroller above said table, adapted to coact with the top sheet of a pile on said table, when said table raised, a paper-Weight bar, adapted to bear upon the top of the pile ata distance to the rear of said'roller, a manually-operable member, a pivoted plate, connections for varying the angular position of said plate as said mem her is operated, and means governed by the position of said plate for adjusting the distance to the rear of said rolle at which said bar bears upon the pile.

17. In a duplicating machine, the combination oi a table, means to lower and ra e and hold the same raised for an inter repeatedly, during the operation oi the mahine, a feeding roller above said table, adapted to enact with the top sheet of a pile is raised, a paper-weight bar, adapted to bear upon the top of the pile a distance to the rear 01 said roller, a mannally-operable member. a pivoted plate, connections for varying the angular position of said plate as said memher is operated. and means governed by the position of said plate for adjusting the distance to the rear of said roller at which said bar bears upon thepile, and means gov erned by the position of: said plate for adjustingthe time said table remains in its raised position, each operation.

18. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a table, means to lower and raise and hold the same raised for an interval, repeatedly, during the operation of the ma chine, feeding roller above said table. adapted to coact with the top sheet of a pile on said table, when said table is raised. a paper-weight bar, adapted to bear upon the top of the pile at a, distance to the rear of said roller, a manually-operable member. a

pivoted plate, connections for varying the angular position of said plate as said memher is operated, a spring for exerting upward pressure on said table when it is 'aised, and means governed by the position of said plate for adjusting the'distance to the rear of said roller at which said bar be rs upon the pile, and for adjusting the tension of said spring.

19. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a table, means to lowerand raise and hold the same raised for an interval. repeatedly, during the operation or": the ma.- chine. a feeding roller above said table. adapted to coact with the top sheet of pile on said table,- when said table raised. a paper-Weight bar, adapted to bear upon the top of the pile at distance to me rear oi"? said roller, a manually-operable member, a pivoted plate, connections *for varying the angular position of said plate as said menr her is operated, a spring for exerting upward pressure on said table when it is raised, means governed by the position of said plate for adjusting-the dis'tanse to the rear otsaid roller at'which said bar bears upon the pile, and for adjusting the tension of: said sprin an oscillating cam governing the timing of said table raising and lowering means. and connections between said plate andcam for adjusting the angular position of said cam.

20. In a duplicating machine, the combination with a table for a pile oi sheets, means for buckling the forward end of the top sheet, to separate it from the pile, hearing means to exert pressure on the top sheet, to the rear of the portion buckled. and resilient means to cause said buckling means to exert pressure on the top sheet while it is operating, all of said means coming into op eration periodically, of means for increasing or decreasing proportionally the length of time of application of said buckling means. the distance between said bearing means and buckling means, and the amount of pressure exerted by said resilient means, and a singlemanually-operable member for operating said increasing and decreasing means.

21. In a duplicating machine, the combination with a table fora pile of sheets, means for buckling the forward end of the top sheet, to separate it from the pile, bearingmeans to exert pressure on the top sheet, to the rear of the portion buckled, and resilient means to cause said buckling means to exert pressure on the top sheet while it is and a manually controlled member for operating said pointer and said increasing and decreasing means.

2-2. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a table, a feed roller above the same, means to lower and raise said table and hold the same in lowered and raised positions, repeatedly, during the operation of the machine, a manually-operable member, a pivoted plate, connections for varying the angular position of said plate as said member is operated, a scale, a pointer carried by said plate and adapted to move over said scale, connections between said plate and table raising and lowering means, for adjusting the timing of the latter in accordance with the angular position of said plate.

2%. ln a duplicating machine, the combination of a table, a feed roller above the same, frame member, a plate rotatably mounted on said member, a screw, a nut adapted to travel thereon as said screw revolves, a connection from said nut for varying the angular position of said plate, means for raising and lowering said table, repeatedly, during the operation of the machine, means for varying the timing of said raising and lowering means in accordance with? the angular position of said plate. and means for rotating said screw.

24-. In a duplicating machine, the combi-l nation of a table, a feed roller above the? same, a frame member, a plate rotatablyl ll mounted on said member, a screw, a nut,

adapted to travel thereon as said screw re volves, a connection from said nut for vary-Q ing the angular position of said plate, means for raising and lowering said table, repeatedly, during the operation 0; the machinei"i a spring for pressing said table upwardly when in its raised position, means for increasing or decreasing the tension of said spring as said plate swings in one direction or the other, and means for rotating said screw.

25. In a duplicating machine, the combination of atable, a feed roller above the same, a frame member, a plate rotatably mounted on said member, a screw, a nut adapted volves, a connection from said nut for varying the angular position of said plate, means for raising and lowering said table, repeatedly, during the operation of the machine, a paperwveight bar adapted to bear upon a pile of sheets on said table at a distance to the rear of said roller, a connection between said plate and bar for adjusting the distance between said bar and roller, and means for rotating said screw.

26. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a table, a feed roller above the same, a frame member, a plate rotatably mounted on said member, a screw, a nut adapted to travel thereon as said screw re-' volves, a connection from said nut for varying the angular position of said plate, means for raising and lowering said table, repeatedly, during the operation of the machine,

a spring for pressing said table upwardly when in its raised position, a cam on said plate, a roller bearing on said cam, lever connections between said roller and spring for adjusting the tension of said spring as said plate swings in one direction or the other, and means for rotating said screw.

This specification signed and witnessed this 9th day of June, 1920.

ERNEST J. BRASSEUR.

Witnesses:

WM. Geo. D. ORR, JosnrH TEAL.

to travel thereon as said screw re- 1 

